Take the memories, leave the clutter  

When you list your home for sale, your personal clutter has the potential to diminish its appeal for prospective buyers who are looking for a canvas upon which to imprint their own lives and personalities. So moving from a house to an apartment or smaller home is a great excuse to declutter, sorting through your possessions to identify what to cull and what to keep. 

Parting with possessions that have witnessed so much of your life can be emotionally difficult, but you don’t have to discard everything you hold dear. A large apartment with two or three bedrooms still provides space for treasured objects and there are many clever storage solutions built into the design. 

Moving into a two bedroom residence at The Langlee by Mirvac in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, Jill Beesley had no qualms about leaving behind the furnishings from her sprawling lakeside home. 

“I didn’t want to bring furniture and clutter with me,” says Jill. “My memories are not attached to furniture and things, they are here, in my head and my heart.” 

Jill engaged a joinery company to make custom-made furnishings and storage for her new home, including a hallway cabinet where she displays precious gifts from her husband Jeff and mementoes from their frequent travels abroad. 

The second bedroom in Jill’s apartment is for her grandchildren who live only minutes away. Being able to spend time with them is helping her to build new memories in a new home. 

Jill adopted a very pragmatic attitude to decluttering and there are many who found a kindred spirit when Marie Kondo achieved global fame for her KonMari method of organising, choosing only those objects that spark joy.  

To make the task of decluttering a little easier we’ve put together a guide that will help you sort your belongings into four different categories for a fresh and uncluttered start in your new home. 

1. Emotional

“It brings back so many memories” 

 
Memories are not embedded in objects, they travel with you, yet there will always be items that you want to keep for yourself or family members. 

Invite your children to rummage through their old bedrooms and take the toys, photographs, trophies and books that can be passed on to their own children. 

Clothes can be hard to part with, even those that no longer fit or are out-dated. Offer them first to children who can see the vintage value. Take a photograph of outfits you feel an attachment to and create a scrap book or memory book, then bundle them up for charity, or selling online or on consignment. 

Furniture items that fit your new space and lifestyle can travel with you but if they don’t, give family members first dibs. It’s comforting to know that heirlooms will be treasured by the next generation.  

2. Just in case

“Might come in handy one day”

 
Being prepared is commendable but when you’re holding on to possessions just in case they come in handy one day, it’s time to take stock. Be honest about whether you’ve actually used any of these items and if they have no sentimental value at all, pare them back to the bare necessities. Storage space is valuable real estate so instead of thinking ‘just in case’, make ‘just enough’ your mantra. 

The garden shed is a task that has to be tackled if there is no prospect that you’ll be moving lawns, clipping hedges or digging garden beds in the foreseeable future. You may want to retain hand tools for tending a balcony garden and a tool kit for appliance repairs but the rest can be gifted to children and neighbours or offered on Facebook Marketplace. Approach your local Men’s Shed or Women’s Shed who may be able to put your unwanted tools to good use. 

3. Guilt

“It cost a lot and it’s like brand new” 

We are all guilty of succumbing to the latest fad, and kitchen gadgets are the worst offenders, ultimately stored out of sight – and reach – because they are never used after the first rush of enthusiasm wears off. If the top shelves of your cupboards are overflowing with expensive impulse buys like air fryers, bread makers, ice cream makers, slow cookers and the like, bite the bullet and donate, sell or gift them. The same goes for clothing and knick knacks that have no purpose in your current life or future life.  

4. Bargains

“But it was so cheap” 

It’s amazing how easily we can be seduced into buying something useless just because the price was discounted. There’s a sense of pride in saving so much money so we hold on to them like trophies, ignoring the fact it was money spent not saved. Decluttering your home allows you to acknowledge you fell for a tried and true retailing trick by consigning junk to a junk pile destined for recycling or even regifting – if it’s still got its price tag on! 

Decluttering may seem like a daunting task, but the rewards are worth it. It’s about making space for the memories that matter most and creating room for new experiences. So, let go of the clutter, embrace simplicity, and enjoy the freedom of a home that reflects the life you want to live. 

*The article is intended as a guide only to provide general information.  Mirvac is not a provider of financial or investment advice and this information should not be relied on as such. Before acting on any information in this publication, purchasers should fully consider the appropriateness of the information, having regard to their objectives, and financial and tax situation and needs, and seek their own advice from appropriately qualified advisers.  Mirvac has made all reasonable efforts and inquiries it believes necessary in preparing the publication but is not responsible for confirming the completeness or accuracy of such data and information. Purchasers must rely on their own continuing enquiries about purchasing decisions. Mirvac expressly excludes any and all liability relating to, or resulting from, the use of or reliance on, any information contained in this brochure by any person.